Impaired Development of Atherosclerosis in <i>Abcg1</i> ^−/− <i>Apoe</i> ^−/− Mice

Abstract

Loss of ABCG1 from all tissues or from only hematopoietic cells results in smaller atherosclerotic lesions populated with increased apoptotic macrophages, by processes independent of ApoE. Specific oxysterols identified in tissues of Abcg1(-/-) Apoe(-/-) mice may be critical because they induce macrophage apoptosis and the expression of proapoptotic genes.